Signal-lamp.



.Patented July-29, |902.

SIGNAL LAMP.

(Appliation :tiled May 8, 1901.)

T. H nu D" w K. F.

Sheet I.

3 Sheets EE-III.

No. 705,803; Patented my 29,1902.

` F. K. WRIGHT.

SIGNAL LAMP.

(Application med my s, 1901.)

(No Model.) i S'Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Patented July 29, |902. F. K. WRIGHT.

SIGNAL LAMP.

(Application led May 8, 1901.)

a .sheets-sm: 3.

(lo Model.)

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xo tives and the rear cars of trains.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK K.1 WRIGHT, OF SYRACFUSE, 'NEW' YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,808, dated J' uly 29, 1902.

Application led May 8, 1901i Serial Nol` 59,218. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK K. WEIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county ot' Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Signal- Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of signal-lamps which are used mainly on locomo- Such lamps are used on locomotives for indicating by means of white lenses and movable transparent colored signal-platesthe character of the run of the locomotive or train, a white light indicating, for instance, a run on schedule time; a green light, a second section of a run on schedule time, and a red light, an extra or special run. Such lamps are also used on the rear end of the train for giving colored 2o signals.

3o devices by which the plates are raised and lowered are very compact and occupy but little space onthe lamp and enable the plates to be quickly and conveniently raised and lowered. e

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signal-lamp provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section through one of the lenses of the lamp and the 4o adjacent `colored signal-plates, inl line 2 2,

Fig. 1, the front plate being elevated and the rear plate lowered. Fig. 3 is a similar section on an enlarged scale. Fig. #t is a Vertical transverse section at right angles to Fig. 3 in line 4: 11 Fig. 3, looking rearward. Fig.

5 is a vertical transverse section in the same line lookingforward.' Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in line G 6, Fig. 4t. Fig. 7 is a detached front elevation of the upper part of 5o the` guideway. Fig. S is a detached front 'elevation of the lower part of the guideway. Fig. 9 is a detached vertical section of the tion.

front signal-plate and its actuating-lever, showing the inner arm 0f the lever of disk form. Fig` 10 is a vertical section of the inner arm of this lever detached, the section being taken in line 10 10, Fig. 1l. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of this diskshaped inner arm of the lever with the outer arm of the lever indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 12 is a sectional front elevation showing a modied 'construction of myimprovement, the section being taken in line 15 15, Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a vertical axial section in line 13 13, Fig. 12. Fig. Mis a horizontal section in line 14 14, Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section in line 15 15, Fig. `13, showing the actuating-lever locked in its vertical position, in which both signal-plates are raised above the lens. Fig. 16 is alvertical axial section in line 16 16j, Fig. 15. V

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in theseveral figures.

A represents the body of the lamp, which may be 'of any ordinary construction and which contains an oil-pot a of usual construc- B represents one of the white lenses, secured, as usual, in a vertical annular frame b, arranged in a circular collar J, projecting fromthe side of the rlamp-body. Lamps of this class areusually provided with two of these collars yand'lenses at right angles to each' other; but as these lenses and their appurtenances are duplicates of each other only one `lens is shown.

The lamp is provided in rear of each lens with. two colored signal-plates C D, arranged one -behind, the other; Both plates are raised above the lens when awhite light is desired, and one of these plates is lowered to a position iu rear of the lens when a colored light is desired.V The outer or front plate C is usually red and the inner or rear plate D green. These platesl are arranged in a vertical guideway E, which is divided by a vertical transverse partition F into a front compartment, in which the outer plate() moves up and down, and a rear compartment for the inner plate D. The partition separates the platesand prevents one from rubbing against the other. The partition is provided in its lower portion with a circular opening f,which is arranged in line with the lens and of the IOO lIo

proper size to permit of the proper illumination of the leus and signal-plates. The signal-plates C D are circular in outline, and the guideway is about as wide as the diameter ot' these plates, so that the latter move up and down in the guid'eway with a rolling movement along one of the vertical sides e of the guideway. Each signal-plate is attached at its periphery to the inner arm of an actuating-lever, which is pivoted centrally in the upper portion of the guideway, so that by rocking this lever the plate is moved up or down. As shown in Figs. l to 6, the actuating-lever of the front plate C is composed of an outer arm G and an inner arm G', and that of the inner plate D is composed of an outer arm H and an inner arm H. Each inner arm is provided with a pin c', which engages loosely in an opening at the periphery of the signal-plate, so that the latter is free to turn on this pin as the plate rolls up or down in the guideway. Each plate is bound with a metallic rim k, which is provided with a socket, in which the pin engages.

The lower part E of the guideway E is secured to the body of the lamp and projects upwardly from the collar b in rear of the annular lens-frame h,'forming a flat, transverse open-topped projecting chamber in 'rear of the lens-frame. The upper part E2 of the guideway is detachable and iits around the projecting top portion of the lower part E', forming a casing or housing for the signalplates and the inner arms of the actuatinglevers and protecting the same against cinders, snow, rain, dac. The partition-F may be divided horizontally and secured with its upper part in the upper part E2, so as to be removable therewith, and with its lower part L in the lower part- E of the guideway, as shown in Figs. l to 8, or the partition may be made in one piece and secured to the upper part of the guideway and project into the lower part, as shown in Figs. 9 to l2. The lower edge of the upper part E2 is concave to t upon the round part of the lamp-body in rear of the lens-frame.

The lever G G' of the front signal-plate C is pivoted in the front wall of the upper part E2 of the guideway, and the lever H H of the rear plate D is pivoted in the rear wall thereof. Each of these levers is preferably'pivoted in the wall of the casing by a hollow hub g h, respectively, which turns in a circular opening in the wall. The lever is held in this opening by the outer and inner arms G H and G H,respecti vel y,bearin g against opposite sides of the wall ofthe guideway. A convenient construction of these parts (shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 9 to 13) consists in stamping a hollow circular hub on the inner arm ot' the lever and providing this hub on dialnetrically opposite sides with slots g, in which the ou ter arm of the lever is secured by soldering. The'inner arm of each actuating-lever may be of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the arm tapers from the hub outwardly, or it may have the form of a disk g2, as shown in Figs. 9 to l1. The last-named construction has the advantage that the disk forms a iiat support for the adjacent signal-plate, whereby the latter is held in place and guided during its movements and whereby binding of the plate in its ways is prevented.

The, upper part E2 of the guideway is constructed with a semicircular top e', curved concentric with the pivot-line of the actuating-levers. The outer arm G of the front lever does not extend to the peripheral edge of the top portion E2, Fig. l, and the outer arm H of the rear lever extends around the peripheral edge to the front side, so that both levers are visible from the front and can be actuated from the front. The upper part E2 is provided with external horizontal ribs or stops Z Z on opposite sides of the center in such a position that the actuating-levers rest on these stops in either eXtreme position.

In the position of the parts shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 6 theouter arm G of the front lever rests on the stop l', the inner arm G of this lever projects upwardly, and the front plate C is in its highest position. The outer arm H of the rearleverV also rests upon the stop Z', the inner arm H" of this lever projects downwardly, and the rear plate D is in its lower position in line with the lens. By swinging the outer arm H of the rear lever to the right in Figs. l and 4 until the lever rests upon the stop the rear plate is elevated to its highest position. During this upward movement of the inner arm H the plate D rolls upwardly along the Vertical inner side e of the guideway. This causes the plate to be fully raised, or practically so, when the inner arm has reached a horizontal position, so that the further upward movement of the inner arm results mainly in a turning of the platewithout materially changing its position, except in so far as the looseness of the fit of the parts prevents the plate from fully reaching its `highest position when the inner arm G or H is in its horizontal position.

By swinging the outer arm G of the front lever to the `right in Figs. l and 4 thefront plate islowered. When both plates C D are raised, the arm G of the front lever rests upon the stop Z'and the arm H of the rear lever upon the stop Z.

The inner arms G H are so arranged with reference to the outer arms G H of the levers that the inner arms have passed slightly beyond the central vertical position when the outer arms rest on the stops. This position of the inner arms beyond the-dead-center when the platesare elevated holds the plates securely in their elevated position and prevents them from being jarred down.

In the construction represented in Figs. l to 7 each lever is separate and capable of independent movement. This is, however, not essential, and, if desired, the levers may be united in such way that both move simul-` taneously, but with their inner arms in op- IOO IIO

posite directions, so that one plate moves up when the other moves down. This construction is represented in Figs. 12 to 16. In these figures the inner arms Gr2 H2 are connected to outer arms Gr3 H3. The latter are united at their outer ends, so as to form a loop-shaped hand-lever which straddles the housing E2. The inner arms project in opposite directions at right angles to the hand-lever, so that when the latter stands in a vertical position', Figs. 15 and 16, the inner arms project horizontally in opposite directions. In this position of the inner arms both plates C D are in their elevated position. The levers are locked in this position by the front arm G2 being swung into a notch min the upper part of the housing E2. Upon swinging the handlever to the right from this central position the inner front arm Gr2 is lowered and the inner rear arm H2 raised, Figs. 12 and 13. This lowers the front plate C to its lower position, b ut does not materially change the position of the rear plate D, as the latter simply turns during this movement of the arm H2. Upon swinging the hand-lever to the left from the central position the inner rear arm H2 is lowered and the rear plate D lowered to its lower position,while the elevation of the front plate is not materially changed.

When the signal-plate is elevated, it stands with its center about in line with the pivotline of its actuating-lever. This permits the lever to be located low down or at no great height above the lens and reduces the height of the signal mechanism considerably, bringing the top of the housing below the lamptop. The height of the lamp is therefore not greater than that of an ordinary lamp which has no mechanism by which the signal-plates are raised and lowered.

As the signal-plates arenot handled in raising and lowering, the danger of breakage is avoided which exists in lamps in which the plates are carried in a pocket in the lampbody and placed by hand in operative position. Access can be had to the signal-plates for cleaning or repairing by removing the same, with the upper part of the guideway and the levers, from the lamp.

N represents a clasp of any suitable construction by which the lamp is held on the locomotive or car.

I claim as my invention-Lf- 1. The combination of alamp provided with a lens, an upright guideway arranged adjacent to said lens, a circular signal-plate arranged in said guideway, and an actuatinglever having a suitable fulcrum, said lever being pivoted at its free end to the signalplate near the periphery thereof,whereby the lens is caused to move up or down in the guideway with a rolling movement, substanA tially as set forth.

2. The combination of a lamp provided in its side with alight-opening, an upright guideway which intersects said openin g, a circular l signal-plate arranged in said guideway, and

an actuating-lever having a suitable fulcrurn, said lever being pivoted at its free end `to the signal-plate near the periphery thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a lamp provided in its side with alight-opening, an upright guideway intersecting said opening, a transverse partition dividing said guideway into a front and rear compartment, circular signal-plates arranged in said compartments, and actuating-levers pivoted in the front and rear walls of said guideway and having their free ends connected by pivots with said plates near the periphery thereof, substantially asset forth.

4f. The combination of a lamp provided in its side with a light-opening, an upright guideway intersecting said opening and having its upper portion detachably connected with said lamp, a circular signal-plate arranged in said guideway, and an actuating-lever pivoted in the upper detachable portion of the guideway and connected at its free end directly with said plate by a pivotal connection, substantially as set forth.

5. `The combination of a lamp provided in its side with alight-opening, an upright guideway intersecting said opening, circular signalplates arranged one behind the other in said guideway, and actuating-levers pivoted in the front and rear walls of said guideway, each lever being composed of an inner arm which is connected with a signal-plate and an outer arm by which the lever is manipulated, substantially as set forth. i

6. The combination of a lamp provided in its side with a light-opening, an upright guideway intersecting said opening, circular signalplates arranged one behind the other in said guideway, actuating-levers pivoted, respectively,in the front and rear walls of said guideway and having inner arms connected with said signalplates and outer manipulatingarms, and stops on the guideway for limiting the movement of said outer arms, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a lamp provided in its side with a lightopening, an upright guide way which intersects said opening, a circular signaldplate arranged in said guideway, an actuating-lever having a suitable fulcrum,

t said lever being composed of an outer manipulating-arm and an inner disk-shaped member, and a pivot which is arranged on said disk-shaped inner member, near the periphery thereof, and connects the same with said signal-plate near the periphery thereof, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a lamp provided in its side with a light-opening, an upright guidei way intersecting said opening and provided with a circular opening, an actuating-lever arranged with its hub in said opening and provided with an inner and an outer arm on opposite sides of the wall of the guideway,and a circular signal-plate arranged in said guide- IOO IIO

Way and connected directly with the inner openings in which the other arm is secured, arm of said lever, substantially es set forth. substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the guideway and Witness my hand this 4th day of May, 1901. :o

a signal-plate movable in the same, of an ac- FREDERICK K. VRIGHT. 5 tuating-lever composed of two arms, one of Witnesses:

which has a, projecting hollow hub which is EARL S. BORST,

provided on diemetrically opposite sides with FRANK C. ORoWELL. 

